DOES FASHION BOOST YOUR CONFIDENCE?

Fashion can boost your confidence, but it is not as straightforward as you may think. 

First of all, what is confidence? 

Confidence: a feeling of self-assurance arising from one's appreciation of one's own abilities or qualities.

If confidence is a "feeling" based on "one's own abilities and/or qualities", then how does fashion play it's role in boosting self confidence?

The common misconception about the relationship of confidence and fashion is that it can be bought or copied. If you have the best you will feel the best. People focus their attentions on the results of what you "look like" and how "good" it makes you feel. The more beautiful you look, the more confidence you should have. 

However, this theory falls flat, as there are many beautiful and wealthy people who have the lowest sense of self worth. Not to mention, the common pursuit of a particular type of beauty, serves no purpose beyond physical attraction. 

This type of mental manipulation causes people to link confidence to money and success, when in actuality they are neglecting the essence of confidence building.

The only true way to use fashion to boost your confidence, is if it is used to celebrate who you are. No copying, no depending on labels or price tags, it's all about you.

 The mental process of choosing and coordinating creates a relationship of understanding who you are. It is only at this level that fashion can become a vehicle of self discovery. As you explore this type of fashion adventure, you start to understand, and accept the essence of your personal formula. The better you understand your formula, the more you learn to trust it. 

Embrace yourself, and discover your own beauty.

Follow your own path. 

xo,

Maya

Fall Daily: "Ordinary is Out. Choose to Be Interesting."

Life is all about finding a place to belong. We naturally crave acceptance, and the easiest way to achieve it, is to follow the pack. Dare to do anything off the grid and risk being outcasted. This is the world we live in, and the natural course of what we do.

Why is this a problem? When you are stuck in this mold of what is "popular", you limit your own creative skills, and ability to think on your own. 

When was the last time you thought about what you like without fear of judgement or outside influence? When we are kids, our intuition is raw, and it is easy to act without fear. As we grow and experience life, it gets more difficult to keep our spirits free, and think on our own. We are good at following directions and trusting what we are told to believe. However, when are we going to step out of that zombie trance and start thinking for ourselves? 

Why does the world need you to be interesting? 

Believe it or not, people are observing you, and your bold act of bravery, will inspire others do so too. In the fashion world, it is the "odd balls" that become the muse. They inspire creativity and new ideas. Challenge yourself and you challenge others, this is how the world should function. Don't listen to trends, there is no such thing. Bring something new to the table, and help the fashion world evolve in a more inspiring way. 

How can you be Interesting?

Interesting is not to be mistaken as "being different, for the sake of being different". It is the ability to incorporate your unique character into your style. It maybe ridiculous, scary, strange, beautiful or weird, but whatever you call it, you should be one of a kind. There are no rules in fashion as long as you stay true to who you are. The process of figuring out who that person is, will be a guaranteed journey that keeps you interesting! 

Join me tomorrow for more daily Fall Styling!

xo,

Maya

3 Ways to Boost Your Confidence With Fashion

It doesn't matter how smart, beautiful, or popular you may be, we all suffer from confidence. 

Insecurities flood our day to day life, and a little armor could help all of us. 

Here are my top 3 tips on boosting confidence through fashion!

1.) Have Pride:

Start by taking pride in how you represent yourself. Don't slouch, look at the floor, and hope your demure sweat suit will somehow allow you to blend into the wall, and remain invisible. No matter how much you may try to convince yourself you do not care, it is effecting your confidence.

If you currently have no money, focus your effort on making sure the basics are covered. Keep your clothes clean, ironed, and organized. The recipe for more confidence, is not in buying more but to care more. Always put enough effort in your look that you can look at your reflection in the mirror and give yourself a thumbs up. Don't be negative, don't compare, just have enough pride that you can face the world with your head held up. 

2.) Clothes that Make You Happy:

There is something mystical about certain clothing that bring you so much joy. As a child, and even now, I love full A-line skirts that swoosh as I twirl or walk. So much joy can come out of a fashion piece like this and these are the "golden" fashion pieces of your wardrobe. It does NOT matter if other people  may hate it, or mock you for wearing it. Do NOT let them take a way the joy that a certain T-shirt or dress may bring. Instead, take it as a challenge, on how you can style an outfit around that funky T-shirt, or misunderstood dress. 

Wearing what makes you happy, makes you feel good. Feeling good, will boost your mood, and power. Cherish how you feel first and then judge what you end up looking like. You can always tweak an outfit at the final step. 

3.) Accessories!

One of the biggest problems in having style, is taking an outfit from "blah" to WOW! With most people living multifunctional lives, their wardrobe is usually comfortable and boring. A lot of plain shirts, jeans and predictable style. If you want an easy quick way to take a simple boring outfit, and hit it with some personality, invest in accessories! Whether it be statement jewelry, scarves, hats, gloves, or belts, it is the quickest way to add zest to your look and push you from the background straight to center stage. 

Enjoy.

xo,

Maya